PELLET COATING

SYSTEMS

Coating is defined as a thin layer or shell of organic material that wraps a food such as seeds, fruits or other foods. It can be indeed liquid coating, powder coating or solid coating.

Since its introduction in the food industry, coating has become widely used also in sectors such as Animal Feed Industry, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, etc. bringing an considerable advantages such as:

Barrier that limits the contact of the product with the environment thus increasing its shelf life

Modifies the functional properties of foods

Contributes to the control of the surface moisture preventing the agglomeration, adhesion, or degradation of food when stored

Integration of surface ingredients such as flavors, vitamins, colorants, etc.

In the food Industry, the most common substances used mainly as coatings in solid foods are mono and disaccharides, modified starches, and other organic anti-wetting coatings.

The operation essentially relies on mechanical energy. It consists mostly in setting the product particles in motion and simultaneously applying the coating ingredient in a certain pattern to expose one to the other.

The mission of the Italian Company Arda S.r.l., is to apply coating technology also in the animal and fish feed industry by the utilization of its product Seal4Feed™.

Seal4Feed is an emulsifying agent, stabilizer, binder, taste fixer and film coater.

In a post-pelleting process, being a starch based neutral compound, once sprayed on the surface of the pellet it crystallizes. Its solid coating film brings the following benefits:

Drastic increase in durability with consequent less release of dust due to mechanical abrasion during the downstream process and handling. The prevention of residuals left in the process lines avoids risk of cross-contamination when changing formulas.
Reduction of moisture loss thanks to its crystallized coating and contact with the environment preventing the creation of molds.
Increases the free flow of the feeds
Oils and additives in liquid and powder form can be integrated in the agent prior spraying on the pellet thus fixing them on the surface of the pellet.
Being the coating agent the first perception of the tasting buds upon feeding, the pellet can be “camouflaged’ to a taste or color adaptive to the type of animal. This camouflage hides the bad tasting additives that may be often disliked by the animal such as: vitamins, medication, etc. of increasing the intake of feeds.
The use of vitamins, enzymes and acidifiers in feed production usually occurs in the mixing phase by adding it into the mash. The finished feed is then pelletized or extruded in order to make if more absorbable. This process involves compression and steam heating with temperatures that can reach to more than over 100°C.At these high temperatures, the vitamin and mineral contents are gradually lost, causing a significant reduction of their original benefits.To overcome this, many feed producers tend to add a higher amount of the additive needed to compensate the expected loss incurring in non-negligible costs.With the ‘Seal4feed’ technology the additives, minerals, vitamins, enzymes etc. become fixed onto the pellet surface and sealed. There will therefore no longer the need to overdose the additives in the upstream process, creating a palatable pellet and substantial cost savings

THE COATING PROCEDURE IS CARRIED OUT USING A PATENTED TECHNIQUES:

● Dispersion of active ingredient together with Seal 4 Feed.

● Homogenization of the mixture.

● Dosage by spraying of the product.
● Rapid drying at low temperature.
● Cleaning of the system.

S4F SPRAYED ON DIE

SPRAY ON PELLETS

SPRAY ON PELLETS